Month: May 2024

Be’houqotaï (בחוקותי – according to My rules),
Leviticus 26:3–27:34 and Jeremiah 16:19–17:14.

Following the blessings and curses, the end of the Sidra is dedicated to the tithe offerings.

Leviticus 27:30
וְכָל-מַעְשַׂר הָאָרֶץ מִזֶּרַע הָאָרֶץ, מִפְּרִי הָעֵץ–לַיי, הוּא: קֹדֶשׁ, לַיי
All the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord’s: it is holy to the Lord.

The Synagogue on Rue de la Dîme (tithe street) in Benfeld was erected in 1846. In 1876, it underwent expansion on the sides by architect Gustave Adolphe Beyer. In 1895, the Wetzel organ ⁽¹⁾ was installed. In 1922, orientalist frescoes inspired by those in the Florence synagogue were painted by Benfeld artist Achille Metzger. Recognized for its historical value, the synagogue has been listed as a historical monument since 1984. Currently, it is undergoing restoration as part of the Mission Patrimoine ⁽²⁾.

During World War II, Eugène Guthapfel courageously faced the German authorities and saved the synagogue from destruction ⁽³⁾. Today, a commemorative plaque thanking him is placed outside the synagogue.

⁽¹⁾ It is signed “Ch. Wetzel & Fils, Strasbourg,” meaning by Charles Wetzel and his son Edgard. It is the only remaining synagogue organ in Alsace.
⁽²⁾ The Mission Patrimoine, entrusted to Stéphane Bern, is a project implemented by the Fondation du Patrimoine and supported by the Ministry of Culture and the Française des Jeux to safeguard French heritage.
⁽³⁾ As the town hall secretary at the time, he showed remarkable presence of mind. While some nuns hid the religious objects that revealed the building’s religious identity, Eugène Guthapfel claimed to need the synagogue for supposed meetings. Thanks to this ruse, the entire building was preserved.

Behar Sinai (בהר סיני – on Mount Sinai), Leviticus 25:1-26:2 and Jeremiah 32:6-27

The Lord commands the observance of the Sabbath of the land (שְׁמִטָּה – shmita) and the Jubilee (יוֹבֵל – yovel).

Leviticus 25:2
דַּבֵּר אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם
כִּי תָבֹאוּ אֶל-הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי נֹתֵן לָכֶם–וְשָׁבְתָה הָאָרֶץ, שַׁבָּת לַיהוָה
Speak to the children of Israel and say to them:
When you come into the land that I give you,
the land shall observe a rest for the Lord.

The eco-educational farm Chava ve-Adam, founded in 2003 by Isaac Gaziel, is located in a valley adjacent to the Modi’in Technology Park. On this farm, biblical commandments related to the land, such as Shmita, Yovel, as well as the Sabbath and festivals, are meticulously observed.

The farm’s activities focus on organic agriculture and ecological self-sufficiency. These include the use of solar energy, waste treatment, rainwater harvesting, and the reuse of wastewater. In addition, the farm implements innovative ecological construction techniques.

Hava ve-Adam also offers educational programs (seminars, workshops, guided tours) aimed at teaching agricultural methods in harmony with ecological principles and biblical traditions.

Emor (אמור – say), Leviticus (21:1–24:23), Ezekiel 44:15-31

Olive oil plays a crucial role in the rituals of the Temple. It is used to prepare the anointing oil, used to consecrate the priests and sanctuary objects, and to fuel the Menorah, a powerful symbol of divine presence.

Leviticus 24:2
צַו אֶת-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְיִקְחוּ אֵלֶיךָ שֶׁמֶן זַיִת זָךְ כָּתִית–לַמָּאוֹר: לְהַעֲלֹת נֵר, תָּמִיד.
Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually.

Renowned Olive Oil:
The region of Chania in Crete is renowned for its production of high-quality extra virgin olive oil. The Cretan Olive Mill, located in Chania, has won several gold medals in international competitions⁽¹⁾.

Etz Haïm Synagogue (Tree of Life):
After the Ottoman conquest of Crete in 1669, the Jewish community acquired a Venetian Catholic church dating back to the 14th century and transformed it into a synagogue, serving as a spiritual and cultural center for over three centuries. Damaged during World War II, it was left abandoned. Following the earthquake in 1995, Nikos Stavroulakis⁽²⁾ took the initiative to restore the entire complex.

⁽¹⁾ Particularly with their Cretan Agrelia Koroneiki oil, produced from Koroneiki olives, the most common variety in Crete.
⁽²⁾ Nicholas Peter Stavroulakis (1932 – 2017), also known as Peter Stavis, was a scholar, American-Greek artist, director, and founder of the Jewish Museum of Greece. He played a crucial role in preserving Jewish heritage in Greece.

Parasha Kedoshim (קדושים – Holy), Leviticus 19:1-20:27 and Ezekiel 22:1-19. Pirkei Avot Chapter 2. Yom HaShoah. Yom HaZikaron. Yom HaAtzmaut.

In Pirkei Avot 2:1:
 רבי⁽¹⁾ אוֹמֵר: אֵיזוֹ הִיא דֶֽרֶךְ יְשָׁרָה שֶׁיָּבוֹר לוֹ הָאָדָם, כָּל שֶׁהִיא תִּפְאֶֽרֶת לְעֹשֶֽׂיהָ וְתִפְאֶֽרֶת לוֹ מִן הָאָדָ.
Rabbi⁽¹⁾ says, ‘What is the straight path that a person should follow? It is the one that honors him in his own eyes and also honors him in the eyes of others.

Located atop Jerusalem, Mount Herzl, also known as the Mount of Remembrance (Har HaZikaron), is a place of memory, where heroes are honored. It houses the National Cemetery of Israel, various memorials^(2), and the Herzl Museum.
Every year, during national commemoration days such as Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikaron, and Yom Ha’Atzmaut^(3), Mount Herzl becomes the focal point of official ceremonies, embodying the spirit of memory, resilience, unity, solidarity, and determination of the Israeli people.

⁽¹⁾ Rabbi Yehuda HaNassi, Rabbi Yehuda the Prince, better known by the titles Rabbi, My Master, or Rabbeinu HaQadosh, Our Holy Master, was a Tanna (Mishnaic sage) of the fifth generation (135 – circa 220 CE).
⁽²⁾ At the top of Mount Herzl, the place where the tomb of Theodor Herzl is located hosts the opening ceremony of Israel’s Independence Day. Around the square, the National Cemetery houses the graves of numerous personalities, as well as those of soldiers and civilians who sacrificed their lives for Israel. Near the summit on the western slope lies Yad Vashem, the world’s largest Holocaust memorial, honoring Jewish victims of the Holocaust, as well as heroes and Righteous Among the Nations.
⁽³⁾ Yom HaShoah: Holocaust Remembrance Day, Yom HaZikaron: Israeli Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism, and Yom Ha’Atzmaut: Independence Day.

A’harei Mot (אחרי מות – After Death), Leviticus 16:1-18:30. Ezekiel 22:1-16.

The Parsha A’harei-Mot meticulously describes the Yom Kippur ritual, emphasizes the role of the Mikveh for purification and drawing closer to God, stresses the necessity of maintaining sanctity in daily life, and addresses the crucial aspect of morality and ethics in sexual relations.

Leviticus 16 :4
וְרָחַץ בַּמַּיִם אֶת-בְּשָׂרוֹ
Leviticus 16:24, 26 et 28
וְרָחַץ אֶת-בְּשָׂרוֹ בַמַּיִם
And he shall bathe his body in water.

After its renovation in 1957, the Judenbad⁽¹⁾ of Friedberg⁽²⁾ was opened to the public. This building is located in the former Jewish quarter of the old town, in the Judengasse⁽³⁾. Dating back to 1260, it is a remarkable example of medieval German-Jewish architecture. The seventy-two steps⁽⁴⁾ carved into the basalt lead to a spring-fed pool situated 25 meters deep. An octagonal opening in the Gothic dome allows for an appreciation of the symbolism, complexity, and beauty of the structure.

⁽¹⁾ Judenbad: This is the German term for Mikveh (מִקְוָה), a ritual bath used for purification rites. The word “Judenbad” translates literally to “Jewish bath.”
⁽²⁾ Friedberg: This German name means “Hill of Peace.” “Frieden” means “peace” and “Berg” means “hill.” The once significant community was decimated during the Holocaust.
⁽³⁾ Judengasse: This German term literally means “alley of the Jew.”
⁽⁴⁾ 72 steps: The number 72 holds special significance in Kabbalah, where it is linked to the Shem Hamphorasch (שֵׁם הַמְּפֹרָשׁ), the secret name of God. This name is derived from verses 19, 20, and 21 of chapter 14 of the Book of Exodus, each containing 72 letters. By rearranging these letters, 72 groups of three letters, or trigrams, are obtained, each considered as an angelic name. When these names are combined, they form the divine name.